Man With Suffield Ties Gets Hefty Sentence In Federal Drug Case

SUFFIELD, CT — A former Suffield resident has been sentenced to more than a decade in prison in a drug and gun case that involved the mail, a leading prosecutor said.

John H. Durham, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut, said that Orlando Quiros, 42, a former Suffield and New Britain resident who goes by the street names of "O" and "Gordo," was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 136 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for cocaine trafficking and firearm possession offenses.

The case stems from a joint investigation headed by the DEA New Haven Task Force into a central Connecticut cocaine and crack cocaine trafficking ring, Durham said.

The investigation, which included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of crack cocaine and seizures of cocaine and cash proceeds, revealed that Westley Northrup, also known as "Piff" on the street, operated a cocaine and crack cocaine trafficking ring while he was incarcerated in state custody at the Cheshire Correctional Institution, according to Durham.

Northrup conspired with Carlos Roman, also known as "Frizz," of Middletown, to purchase cocaine from suppliers, including Omar Rivera, convert some of the cocaine to crack and then distribute both crack and cocaine through a network of dealers, Durham said.

Further investigation revealed that Rivera, of New Britain, was being supplied with cocaine by Quiros, who regularly received packages containing multi-kilogram quantities of the drug through the U.S. Mail from Puerto Rico, Durham said.

Quiros’ operation was assisted by individuals who agreed to accept delivery of the packages, he added.

According to case records, on July 12, 2017, law enforcement officers intercepted and seized approximately $210,000 in cash that Quiros had in a vehicle he was driving from Connecticut to New York.

Quiros and others involved in the "trafficking conspiracy" were arrested on July 26, 2017. On that date, investigators executed multiple search warrants and seized approximately 7 kilograms of cocaine, several pounds of marijuana, four firearms, and nearly $100,000 in cash, according to case records.

One of the firearms, and approximately $90,000 in cash, were found in a Hartford apartment that Quiros maintained, according to case records.

Investigators also seized vehicles from Quiros — a 2016 Maserati and 2016 BMW 6 Series, according to case records.

On July 17, 2018, Quiros entered a guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, and one count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon.

Northrup, Roman and Rivera pleaded guilty to related charges. On April 12, 2018, Roman was sentenced to 120 months of imprisonment. Northrup and Rivera await sentencing.

Photo Credit: Chris Dehnel

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